IDOLATRY. 


IDOLATRY. 


PREFACE. 


“ Every  man  walketh  in  a  vain  show.”  (Ps. 
37:  6.) 

We  are  apt  to  follow  vain  things. 

Idolatry  being  such  a  great  offense  to  our 
Maker,  that  anything  that  tends  toward  it  should 
be  avoided.  This  being  so  impressed  upon  my 
mind  for  a  long  time,  that  I  was  induced  to  have 
a  Bible  class  consider  it,  one  evening,  and  this  is 
what  I  had  to  say: 

I  have  now  been  asked  by  a  number  of  people 
including  ministers,  to  have  it  printed.  I  do  so, 
hoping  that  it  may  be  of  some  service. 

We  should  seek  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
And  we  have  no  right  to  expect  His  guidance, 
except  we  seek  it  through  the  study  of  God’s 
Word. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  26,  1908. 

WM.  L.  JONES. 


IDOLATRY. 


That  is  worshiping  idols ;  paying  Divine  hom¬ 
age  to  false  gods,  or  created  objects,  or  forces;  or 
an  inordinate  veneration  or  love,  or  devotion  for 
any  person  or  thing. 

An  Idol  is  an  image  for  worship.  .  . 

It  is  also  a  CAUSE,  or  SOURCE  OF  ERROR; 
MISLEADING  HABIT  OF  CONCEPTION,  or 
of  reasoning,  a  FALLACIOUS,  deceptive  ten¬ 
dency ,  an  idol  on. 

An  Idolon,  a  fanciful  or  false  notion;  miscon¬ 
ception;  a  fantom,  an  image,  or  idol. 

An  idol  may  be  pleasure,  if  that  for  which  one 
lives  and  finds  his  principal  joy,  if  it  be  other 
than  God,  that  is  his  idol. 

Our  time,  our  strength,  our  money,  may  go  for 
our  idol. 

Fashion ,  or  any  vain  thing  of  the  world,  may 
be  our  idol. 

They  are  “things  of  naught.”  (Amos  6:  13.) 

I  will  not  make  this  sweeping  statement,  that 


4 


it  was  wholly  on  account  of  idolatry  that  caused 
our  Lord  to  come  into  this  world,  and  suffer  death 
upon  that  Cross. 

But  this  is  certainly  true,  that  the  greatest  evil 
that  caused  Christ  to  come  upon  the  earth  was 
idolatry. 

Thinking  more  of  that  forbidden  fruit  than  of 
God/s  Word. 

Thinking  more  of  wealth,  or  gold,  or  a  show, 
than  of  God,  then  that  is  our  god,  then  we  kill, 
and  commit  all  maner  of  crimes,  for,  and  on  ac¬ 
count  of  our  god. 

iVnvthing  and  everything  that  we  put  ahead  of 
God,  is  our  Idol. 

An  idolatrous  worship  of  God,  is  any  cause  or 
source  of  error,  in  Bis  worship;  or  misleading 
habit  of  conception,  or  of  reasoning  in  that  wor¬ 
ship.  . 

I  leave  it  for  you  to  say  whether  turning  your 
back  upon  our  Lord’s  command,  “Let  not  thy 
left  hand  know  what  thy  right  hand  doeth”;  when 
you  do  your  alms,  and  make  a  parade,  prayer,  or 
praise  service  over. them,  is  not  idolatrous  wor¬ 
ship. 

It  seems  to  me,  that  it  plainly  is. 

Your  forry  and  ceremony ,  you  set  ahead  of 
Godrs  Word. 

The  first  command  that  God  gave  was:  “Thou 

5 


shaft  have  no  other  god  before  me.”  (Ex.  20:  3.) 

And  that  “the  first  and  great  commandment” 
was:  “Thou  slialt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
thy  heart,  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
mind.”  (Matt.  22:  37-38.) 

Disobedience  to  these  commands  are  treason 
against  God. 

All  other  crimes  are  petty  crimes  in  compari¬ 
son  to  wronging  God  our  Creator. 

“Ye  shall  make  you  no  idols.”  (Lev.  26:  1.) 

Making  anything  your  idol  is  the  stepping  stone 
to  iniquity. 

When  the  Lord  was  to  come  on  the  earth,  He 
ALONE  was  to  “be  exalted.”  (Isa.  2:  17.  B.  C. 
760.) 

“And  the  idols,  He  shall  utterly  abolish.”  (Id. 
18.) 

Again  we  are  told,  through  the  same  prophet: 
“The  groves  and  images  shall  not  stand  up.” 
(Is.  27:  9.) 

Even  the  cloth  that  covered  the  idols  was  “a 
menstr^us  cloth.”  (Isa.  30:  22.  B.  C.  713.) 

No  parade ,  prayer  or  praise  service  must  be  a 
cloth  that  covers  our  idol ,  that  we  set  up  ahead 
of  God’s  Word. 

Man’s  idols  were  to  be  “cast  away.”  (Isa. 
31:  7.) 


6 


His  “loftiness”  “bowed  down,”  and  his 
“haughtiness  *  *  made  low.”  (Isa.  2:17.) 

Then  90  years  after  our  Lord  had  been  on  the 
earth,  He  says  through  St.  John  the  Evangelist: 
“Little  children,  keep  yourselves  from  idols.” 
(1  John  5:  21.) 

Moses  “took  the  calf  and  burnt  it,”  “and 
ground  it  to  powder,”  and  mixed  it  with  water, 
and  made  the  Israelites  drink  thereof.  (Ex.  32: 
20.) 

Asa,  the  third  King  of  Judah,  removed  his 
mother  ‘  ‘  from  being  queen,  because  she  had  made 
an  idol,”  and  he  cut  down  her  idol  and  “stamped 
and  burnt  it.”  (2  Chron.  15:  16.) 

It  may  be  that  there  is  no  danger  of  any  of  us 
making  an  image  of  wood ,  stone,  or  metal,  to  wor¬ 
ship. 

But  is  there  no  danger  for  us  to  guard  against 
in  our  worship  of  God  by  some  cause,  or  source 
of  error f  or  by  some  misleading  habit  of  con¬ 
ception,  or  of  reasoning ?  or  by  some  deceptive 
tendency,  and  so  commit  idolatry! 

Can  we  be  sure  that  we  are  pleasing  God,  in  all 
our  forms  of  worship  of  Him,  without  we  thor¬ 
oughly  understand  what  we  are  taught  in  His 
Holly  Word,  and  try  and  follow  that  rather  than 
the  world V 

We  are  told  to  look  to  God,  and  to  His  Word, 

7 


for  our  guidance  and  “instruction  in  righteous¬ 
ness.”  (2  Tim.  3:16.) 

And  nothing  should  draw  us  therefrom. 

We  are  to  worship  the  Creator,  and  not  the 
creature.  (Rom.  1:  25) — not  some  false  object  or 
idol. 

To  do  otherwise  is  to  do,  as  Hosea  said  Ephraim 
did,  “feedeth  on  wind.”  (Hos.  12:  1.) 

That  is,  feedeth  on  that  which  is  vain, — 
brings  damage,  rather  than  benefit. 

Or  as  Isaiah  said:  “A  deceived  heart  hath 
turned  him  aside;  he  feedeth  on  ashes  (Isa.  44: 
20.) 

That  is  he  feedeth  on  that  which  affords  no 
nourishment. 

Or  as  Jeremiah  said:  That  “they  have  burned 
incense  to  vanity.”  (Jer.  18:  15. 

Let  us  remember  that  man’s  vanities  “pro¬ 
voked”  God  “to  anger.”  (Deu.  32:  21.) 

To  draw  nigh  to  God  with  our  mouths  and  with 
our  lips  to  honor  Him,  while  we  disobey  God’s 
written  command,  how  can  our  hearts  be  near 
Him?  And  if  our  “hearts”  are  “far  from  Him,” 
in  “vain”  is  our  “worship.”  (Isa.  29:  13-14; 
Mat.  15 :  8-9. ) 

How  should  we  feel,  making  an  offering  in 
churches,  over  the  money  taken  up?  Making  a 
parade,  prayer  and  praise  service  over  it? 

8 


Asking  God  to  accept  the  same  in  our  way :  As 
much  as  to  say,  4 ‘Lord,  we  know  that  this  is  not 
your  way,  which  is  “let  not  thy  left  hand  know 
what  thy  right  hand  doeth”  (Mat.  6:  3),  but  we 

ask  You,  Lord,  to  accept  the  same  in  our  way ,  and 
bless  the  same  in  Thy  work!” — 

And  we  do  this,  Lord,  as  an  act  of  worship! — 
Of  worshiping  Thee ! 

We  all  know  that  Christ  purchased  us  by  His 
death  (Acts  20:  28;  Rom.  14:8;  Gal.  3:  29;  1  Cor. 
3:  23),  so  what  have  we  to  offer?  We,  and  all  we 
have  belong  to  Him. 

But  some  say,  that  this  is  not  meant  in  fact,  as 
an  offering ;  they  only  call  it  such,  as  a  vain  word, 
and  make  the  parade ,  prayer  and  praise  service 
over  it,  without  meaning  it  as  an  offering. 

We  must  not  forget,  that  it  was  the  wicked 
that  said: 

“Let  them  not  regard  vain  words.”  (Ex.  5:  9.) 

It  is  a  good  heart,  that  yields  to  God’s  word,  at 
the  least  suggestion. 

It  is  the  disobedient  whose  hearts  are  hardened 
by  the  most  gracious  and  loving  words  of  God. 

To  say,  that  nothing  is  meant,  when  the  word 
offerings  is  applied  to  money  taken  up  in  churches 
and  this  parade ,  prayer  and  praise  service  is 
made  over  it :  THEN  it  is  a  vain  word,  expressing 


9 


no  meaning, — nothing  in  regard  to  our  Lord’s  act 
of  offering  Himself. 

How  much  worse  is  it,  to  take  our  Lord’s  name 
in  vain!  Which  we  are  commanded  not  to  do. 
(Ex.  20:  7.) 

We  are  not  guiltless  if  we  do.  (Deu.  5:  11.) 

Can  it  be  a  less  offence  to  speak  of  our  Lord’s 
Act,  of  offering  Himself  on  the  cross  in  vain 
words,  in  a  meaningless  manner,  as  a  part  of  our 
public  worship  of  Him!  Should  we  not  reverence 
our  Lord’s  unselfish  act,  that  accomplished  so 
much  for  us,  and  God’s  Holy  word,  as  we  rever¬ 
ence  His  Holy  Name f 

Should  we  not  for  conscience  sake,  and  in 
obedience  to  His  will,  and  to  promote  His  glory, 
do  so! 

We  read:  “ Great  is  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  that 
is  kindled  against  us,  because  our  fathers  have 
not  hearkened  unto  the  words  of  this  book.”  (2 
Kings,  22:  13.)  Are  we  secure  from  His  wrath 
if  we  do  not  hearken  to  that  Holy  Book ? 

We  are  commanded  not  to  “turn  aside  from 
following  the  Lord  with  all  our  heart.”  (1  Sam. 
12:20.) 

“And  turn  ye  not  aside  #  *  for  vain 

things,  which  cannot  profit  *  *  *  for  they 

are  vain.”  (1  Sam.  12:  21.) 

We  are  further  commanded,  in  regard  to  an 


10 


unclean  person,  or  an  idolator,  “Let  no  man  de¬ 
ceive  vou  with  vain  words:  for  because  of  these 
things  cometh  the  wrath  of  God.  (Eph.  5:6.) 

But  they  take  the  money  and  make  a  parade, 
prayer  and  praise  service  over  it,  as  though  a 
vain  thing  might  be  consistent  with  the  service 
and  worship  of  God.  There  is  no  right  for  any¬ 
one,  by  his  teaching  or  his  example,  or  practice, 
because  he  is  in  authority  to  lay  upon  churchmen, 
or  anyone  attending  divine  service,  anything  not 
required  by  the  Scriptures. 

For  it  seems  good  to  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
to  us,  to  lay  upon  you,  no  greater  burden  than 
these  necessary  things.’1  (Acts  15:  28.) 

This  practice  was  connived  at,  and  commenced 
a  few  years  ago. 

It  was  an  innovation  on  the  church  service, 
which  had  existed  for  nearly  2,000  years;  and  is 
now  held,  not  indifferently,  but  in  many  of  the 
churches,  the  practice  has  been  established  as 
part  of  the  worship  of  God! 

The  Lord  God  said : 

4  ‘  Let  not  your  prophets  and  your  divines 
deceive  you.”  (Jer.  29:  8.) 

“Take  heed  that  NO  MAN  deceive  you.”  (Mat. 
24:  4.) 

“Beware  lest  any  man  spoil  you  through  phil¬ 
osophy  and  VAIN  DECEIT,  after  the  tradition 


of  MEN,  after  tlie  rudiments  of  the  WORLD ,  and 
NOT  AFTER  CHRIST .”  (Col.  2:  8.)  He  knew 
what  was  coming  when  we  were  charged  in  this 
way. 

To  do  such  things,  does  it  not  show  a  lack  of 
looking  to  God  for  guidance? 

Let  us  remember  that  the  Israelites,  when  they 
wanted  a  King,  it  seems  that  they  simply  showed 
a  weakness  in  their  religious  character,  and  folly 
and  indiscretion  and  a  rebellious  spirit,  as  well 
as  ingratitude  and  a  willingness  to  follow  the 
world;  rather  than  beng  obstinately  impious  or 
depraved. 

It  was  at  first  more  inattentive  to  the  guiding 
hand  of  God,  for  they  did  not  pretend  to  deliber¬ 
ately  reject  God’s  authority.  But  the  Lord  said, 
that  thereby  “they  have  rejected  Me.”  (1  Sam. 
8:7.) 

To  Saul,  King  of  Israel,  the  Lord  said  through 
Samuel : 

‘  ‘  Hath  the  Lord  as  great  delight  in  burnt  offer¬ 
ings  and  sacrifices,  as  in  obeying  the  voice  of  the 
Lord?” 

“To  OBEY  is  better  than  sacrifice.  (1  Sam. 
15:22.) 

It  is  the  humble  and  dutiful  obedience  to  God, 
which  makes  us  acceptable  to  Him. 


12 


All  other  observance,  not  conforming  thereto, 
is  a  VAIN  shoiv. 

What  excuse  can  there  be,  for  turning  from 
God’s  word, — from  rules  which  He  has  pre¬ 
scribed If 

Can  we,  propound  as  a  religious  act, — no  mat¬ 
ter,  how  good  the  purpose,  or  what  our  intention 
may  be,  or  with  what  PIETY ,  or  devotion  we  as¬ 
sume,  while  we  ignore  the  spirit  of  obedience ,  by 
disregarding  the  words  of  our  Lord? 

Why  should  we  do  some  religious  act,  in  a  way, 
contrary  to  our  Lord’s  command! 

To  say,  that  we  do  it  as  an  act  of  worship,  does 
not  make  it  an  act  of  piety. 

Do  we  not,  thereby,  set  ourselves  up  as  against 
God,  as  judges,  which  is  the  proper,  or  best  way! 

Is  not  our  act  a  direct  affront, — an  open  insult 
upon  God’s  infinite  wisdom? 

All  opposition  to  our  Lord’s  command  is  sin 
against  Him. 

If  we  are  stubborn,  and  will  not  submit  to  Him, 
then  we  are  guilty  of  iniquity  and  idolatry. 
(1  Sam.  15:23.) 

“The  wrath  of  God  cometh  on  the  children  of 
disobedience.”  (Col.  3:6.) 

Certainly  those  that  wilfully  continue  in  doing 
that  which  they  are  commanded  nof  to  do,  or  do 
a  particular  thing  in  a  wrong  way,  in  a  different 


i3 


way  from  that  which  they  are  directed,  are,  I 
fear,  not  exempt  from  that  WRATH. 

Under  our  own  laws, — formed  on  the  moral 
law, — it  is  a  misfeasance  to  do  a  lawful  act,  in  an 
unlawful  manner.  It  would  be  murder  to  inten¬ 
tionally,  take  any  one’s  life,  except  in  the  way  that 
the  law  provides. 

Job  speaks  of  man,  “being  born  like  a  wild 
ass’s  colt.”  (Job  11:12.)  And  we  read  that 
“The  stork  *  knoweth  her  appointed  time;  and 
the  turtle  and  the  crane  and  the  swallow  observe 
the  time  of  their  coming;  but  my  people  know 
not  the  judgment  of  the  Lord.”  (Jer.  8:7.) 

And  how  is  our  intelligence  compared  with  the 
ox  and  the  ass! 

“The  ox  knoweth  his  owner,  and  the  ass  his 
master’s  crib;  but  Israel  doth  not  know.  My 
people  doth  not  consider.”  (Isa.  1:3.) 

How  silly  it  is,  then, — if  we  say  nothing  worse, 
— for  us  to  be  vain,  and  follow  our  own  ideas, 
when  God  has  told  us,  in  this  instance,  just  what 
we  should,  or  should  not  do. 

We  should  not  be  carried  away,  with  some  new¬ 
fangled,  or  vain  ceremony, — “the  traditions  of 
men,”  particularly  where  there  is  Scripture 
against  it. 


14 


Why  imagine  a  vain  tiling  and  then  practice  it  ? 
(Acts  4:  25 ;  Pa.  2:1.) 

And  that  in  the  worship  of  God! 

God  said  to  the  Jews  for  their  multiplied  fatfts 
and  un-commanded  sacrifice:  “ Bring  no  more 
VAIN  oblations.”  Away  with  it. — “It  is  in¬ 
iquity .”  (Isa.  1:13.) 

“I  will  hide  mine  eyes  from  you;  yea,  when  ye 
make  many  prayers.  I  will  not  hear.”  (Isa. 
1:15.)  Do  public  prayers  over  the  money  appeal 

to  vou? 

%/ 

God  says,  in  substance  to  all,  who  do,  anything, 
that  does  not  agree  with  His  laws,  however 
plausible ,  however  good  and  acceptable  they  may 
APPEAR  to  THEM ,  that  He  wants  none  of  IT, — 
He  wants  nothing  but  that  which  is  in  accordance 
with  His  word — His  will. 

“Now,  on  whom  dost  thou  trust,  that  thou  re- 
bellest  against  Me”?  (2  Kings  18:20;  Isa.  36:5.) 

Jeremiah  tells  us:  “The  wise  men  are  ashamed, 
they  are  dismayed;  *  *  they  have  rejected  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  what  wisdom  is  in  them?” 
( Jer.  8 :  9.) 

This  was  said  of  and  concerning  the  Jews. 

God  being  provoked  with  them,  on  account  of 
their  sins,  destroyed  them  and  their  Temple,  and 
gave  them  over  to  their  enemies,  as  He  before 
had  done  the  other  ten  tribes. 


15 


God  is  no  respector  of  persons.  (2  Chron.09 :  7 ; 
Rom.  2:11;  Eph.  6:9.) 

Should  we  not  profit  by  their  experience? 

Is  there  no  danger  that  the  light  of  God’s  word 
will  be  removed  from  us,  if  we  abuse  or  disre¬ 
gard  it? 

Should  we  not  have  a  wholesome  fear  and  dread 
of  God’s  judgment  upon  us,  if  we  commence  dis¬ 
regarding  His  word,  or  to  slight  what  He  has 
said? 

It  is  the  great  enemy  of  mankind  who  would 
dishearten  the  soul  of  man  from  a  dependence 
upon  God. 

It  is,  in  a  great  measure  carelessness  and  in¬ 
difference  to  God’s  laws,  that  leads  some  to  be 
thoughtless  of,  or  neglect  and  disregard  them,  and 
others  follow  the  world,  and  belie  God  for  their 
own  purpose. 

We  are  to,  “  Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine 
heart;  and  lean  not  ON  thy  own  understanding.” 
(Prov.  3:5.) 

“In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him,  and  He 
shall  direct  thy  paths/9  (Id.  6.) 

We  acknowledge  God  by  being  obedient  to  His 
word;  otherwise  He  has  not  promised,  that  He 
will  direct  our  paths.  No  one  can  be  earnest  in 
worshiping  God,  when  they  do  things  contrary  to 
God’s  word,  and  if  people  are  robbed  of  earnest- 

16 


ness  in  part  of  the  worship  of  God,  then  there  is 
great  danger,  that  that  will  in  time,  undermine 
and  destroy  the  spirit  of  worship  in  some,  and 
induces  others  to  stay  away  from  church,  and  to 
others  it  may  become  their  IDOL,  they  may  think 
more  of  this  parade,  prayer  and  praise  service 
than  of  God’s  Word; — not  seeking  Heavenly  vir¬ 
tue  and  guidance. 

We  should  be  set  strongly  against  any  and  all 
things,  that  we  know,  or  should  know ,  is  against 
the  word  of  God,  or  its  teachings. 

God  has  “not  spoken  in  secret,  in  a  dark  place 
of  the  earth. ”  (Isa.  45:19.) 

He  has  plainly  told  us,  “let  not  thy  left  hand 
know  what  thy  right  hand  doeth:  that  thy  alms 
may  be  in  secret.  ”  (Mat.  6:  3-4.) 

That  is,  all  unnecessary  acts,  are  to  be  avoided 
when  collections  in  churches  are  to  be  made.  No 
parade,  show,  or  ostentation  in  the  performance 
of  a  religious  duty. 

Every  thing  that  looks  like  it  is  disapproved 
of,  by  our  Lord. 

A  Christian’s  duty  therein  is  modestly  and 
silently  shunning  even  the  observance  of  others, 
looking  only  to  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
for  what  we  should  do. 

Knowing  that  every  thought  of  our  heart,  and 
every  secret  motive  of  our  action,  that  is  good 


i7 


and  pure  comes  from  God;  and  if  our  hearts  are 
right,  we  want  to  carry  out  God’s  purpose.  To 
show  forth  His  will  through  our  acts. 

Every  disobedience  to  God’s  Word  must  come 
from  the  evil  one;  and  we  will  have  to  account 
therefor. 

God  exhorts  Judah  to  repentance  and  says: 

“How  long  shall  thy  vain  thoughts  lodge  within 
thee?”  (Jer.  4:14.) 

“In  vain  they  do  worship  Me,  teaching  for  doc¬ 
trines  the  commandments  of  men.”  (Met.  15:9.) 

We  must  be  careful,  that  what  we  practice,  is 
in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of  the  Bible. 

Idolatry  is  such  a  great  offence  to  GOD ,  that 
anything ,  that  tends  towards  it,  should  he  avoided. 

And  here,  He  has  given  us  a  direct  command. 

And  we  do  not  honor  God,  if  we  do  not,  at 
least,  try  to  follow  His  Word. 

When  our  Lord  was  on  earth,  what  example 
did  He  leave  for  us  in  this  regard? 

He  “sat  over  against  the  treasury”  one  day, 
and  saw  the  people  cast  money  into  the  treasury, 
and  “a  poor  woman  came  and  threw  in  two 
mites.” 

He  called  unto  Him,  Peter,  James,  John,  An¬ 
drew,  Matthew,  Thomas  and  the  other  six.  Now, 
what  did  He  say  to  them?  Did  He  say  now  I 
want  you  to  make,  or  my  disciples  to  make  a 

18 


parade ,  prayer  and  praise  service  over  collections 
in  churches,  to  dedicate  them  to  the  service  of 
God,  and  as  a  part  of  the  public  worship?  No! 
Nothing  of  the  kind.  But,  on  the  contrary,  He 
said,  “unto  them,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that 
this  poor  widow  hath  cast  more  in,  than  all  they 
which  have  cast  into  the  treasury.”  (St.  Mark 
12 :  4*43. ) 

Now,  what  is  there  to  make  a  parade ,  prayer  or 
praise  service  over,  when  a  collection  is  taken  up 
in  a  church,  it  may  be  less  than  a  farthing? 

Think  of  the  poor  woman  making,  or  assenting 
to  have,  a  parade ,  prayer  or  praise  service  made, 
in  public,  over  her  two  mites! 

And  yet  she  gave  more  than  all  the  others, 
though  “many  that  were  rich,  cast  in  much.” 
(Mark  12:43-44.) 

Here  is  our  Lord’s  way.  It  needs  no  parade  or 
public  prayer  or  praise  service  to  dedicate  the 
same  to  Him,  as  an  act  of  worship.  Is  it  not  more, 
to  be  seen  of  men?  for  God  sees  our  hearts,  and 
knows  our  very  thoughts  and  circumstances,  and 
what  we  have  set  apart  for  His  service. 

Though  no  one ,  of  course,  wants  us  to  do  things 
as  hypocrits! 

It  was  hypocrits  that  our  Lord  said,  sounded  a 
trumpet  in  the  synagogues  and  in  the  streets, 


19 


that  they  may  have  glory  of  men,”  when  they  did 
their  alms.  (Mat.  6:2.) 

Can  we  be  quite  sure ,  that  we  are  pleasing  our 
Lord  more,  when  we  take  up  our  collections  in 
the  churches,  and  have  a  great  and  grand  organ, 
the  sound  of  which  fills  the  whole  church,  and  is 
heard  in  the  street  ? 

Is  that  more  pleasing  to  our  Lord,  and  does 
it  show  a  more  devout  and  sacred  service  of  Him, 

I 

than  the  hypocrits’  trumpet,  when  we  consider 
that  now,  we  have  our  Lord’s  command  and  our 
disregard  of  God’s  Word? 

We  have  no  right  to  do  some  acts,  that  are  our 
religious  and  our  bounden  duty  to  do,  in  a  wrong 
way, — in  a  way  different  from  that  which  God 
has  commanded. 

David  tried  that  once,  and  the  effect  of  it  was, 
that  great  fear  fell  upon  him,  and  caused  the 
death  of  one  man, — Uzzah. 

He  was  doing  that  which  was  right,  but,  prob¬ 
ably  thoughtlessly,  in  a  wrong  way, — in  a  way  dif¬ 
ferently  from  what  God  had  commanded. 

He  was  following,  if  not  the  world,  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  certainly  not  the  Lord’s  directions. 

We  must  seek  God’s  guidance,  if  we  want  His 
approval  in  what  we  do.  If  we  willfully  disre¬ 
gard  God’s  word;  or  do  ignorantly  that  which  is 
contrary  thereto,  when  we  can,  and  should  know 


20 


better,  how  can  we  expect  God’s  blessing  to  rest 
upon  us? 

And  to  do,  as  a  religions  act,  or  to  try  to  lead 
others  to  do  so,  in  following  some  church,  in  an 
act,  that  is  not  required  by  God’s  word,  in  the 
worship  of  Him,  is  a  form  of  contempt  of  that 
word. 

Can  God  give  entire  success  to  Christian  work, 
when  people  will  not  try  to  follow  His  word? 

Can  we  expect  great  revivals  in  churches,  if  we 
do  not  at  least  try  in  all  respects  to  follow  God’s 
word  ? 

Tf  we  disregard  God’s  word  in  any  respect,  will 
it  not  in  time  have  a  tendency  to  draw  some  away 
from  that  word,  if  not  away  from  church? 

Having  in  the  church  service,  something  that  is 
not  in  accordance  with  God’s  word;  or  that  is  not 
required  thereby,  and  which  is  an  innovation  in 
church  service,  and  which  had  not  been  practiced 
for  nearly  two  thousand  years,  if  ever,  and  now 
to  commence  such  a  practice,  and  to  force  the 
same  upon  all  that  come  to  church,  can  tlfat  be 
considered  laboring  for  the  faster? 

Shall  we  “cast  away  the  law  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts,  and  despise  the  word  of  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel?”  (Isa.  5:24). 

We  know  there  is  to  come  a  “falling  away.” 

Is  not  that  from  the  true  worship  of  God? 


21 


Is  it  not  a  desertion  from  onr  faith  and  princi¬ 
ples  in,  and  reliance  upon,  God’s  word? 

Is  departing  from  God’s  word  a  step  towards 
that  “falling  away 9”  (2  Thes.  2:3.) 

Let  us  be  aware  that  the  light  of  God’s  word 
may  be  removed  from  us.  It  certainly  has  been 
from  one  Christian  church,  when  it  worships  a 
false  mediator;  and  denies  to  some  what  God  says 
is  honorable  to  all — marriage.  God  gives  us,  that 
one  RULE  that  is  to  guide  us  in  life, — that  is,  not 
only  to  follow  His  word, — but  to  love  it , — and  to 
love  it  because  it  is  the  truth;  and  if  we  do  not , 
God  may  make  us  believe  a  lie.  (2  Thes.  2: 10-11.) 

We  are  all  to  be  4  4  watchmen  upon  the  house  of 
Israel,”  and  to  warn  others,  if  we  do  not  their 
blood  may  be  upon  us.  (Eze.  3 : 17-20 ;  Id.  33 :  7-16.) 

Following  worldliness,  which  we  are  very  apt  to 
do,  not  seeking  heavenly  guidance  even  in  the  wor¬ 
ship  of  God,  is  Idolatry. 

God  says :  “I  will  instruct  thee  and  teach  thee 
in  the  way  which  thou  shalt  go :  I  will  guide  thee 
with ^ine  eye.  ”  (Pa.  32:8.) 

“He  will  be  our  guide  unto  death.”  (Pa.  48: 14.) 

“His  spirit  will  guide  you  into  all  truth.”  (John 
16:13.) 

But!  we  must  be  willing  and  obedient  and  allow 
Him  to  guide  us.  Do  not  let  “the  anger  of  the 


22 


Lord  be  kindled  against”  ns,  because  we  “have 
cast  away  the  law  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  de¬ 
spised  the  word  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel”;  (Isa. 
5 :  24-25)  or  have  commenced  to  do  so.  We  do  not 
honor  God,  if  we  do  not  at  least  try  to  follow  His 
word :  And  nothing  should  induce  us,  to  turn  from 
it,  or  to  practice  things,  in  worshiping  Him,  that 
He  does  not  command. 


Bible  Class,  June  19,  1908. 


GRAESSER  &  CO. 
PRINTERS.  BLANK  BOOK  MAKERS 
66  OAK  ST.,  BUFFALO.  N.  Y. 


i  . 


